Sept. 7, 2007

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Illinois soccer team engaged in a back-and-forth battle against No. 7 UCLA, but a late UCLA goal put the game out of reach for the Illini, as the Bruins picked up a 4-2 win in front of 659 fans at Drake Stadium on Friday in the opening game of the UCLA Women's Cup. Junior defender Emily Zurrer and freshman forward Laura Knutson each tallied their second goal of the season.

Both teams' offenses set a quick, attacking pace from the game's outset, combining for 16 shots in the first half. Although the Illini (1-2) were able to create opportunities throughout the first half, the Orange and Blue were unable to capitalize. UCLA (1-1) managed the first goal of the game in the 25th minute when senior forward Danesha Adams netted one on a breakaway to give the Bruins a 1-0 edge at the break.

"Both of these teams have dangerous attacking personalities, and we especially saw that in the first half," head coach Janet Rayfield said. "We were dangerous tonight and we were able to create opportunities. We'll take that as a positive from this game."

The Illini battled back early in the second half to tie the game at one. After the Orange and Blue won the ball in the midfield, Nweke dribbled down the left side before lobbing a pass to Knutson. Knutson spun past the UCLA defenders and took Nweke's pass out of the air and drove it past UCLA goalkeeper Valerie Henderson.

"[Knutson] comes off the bench with the mentality that she's going to make an impact," Rayfield said. "She's willing to put her heart and soul into working as hard as she can and she showed great composure in the box. Her mentality is the kind that sparks this team right now."

The Bruins responded with a goal of their own just two minutes later to regain the lead, 2-1. The seesaw continued six minutes later in the 61st minute when Zurrer pulled the Illini even with UCLA. Freshman midfielder Danielle Kot delivered a free kick inside the 18-yard box, drawing Henderson out from between the posts. Zurrer was able to win the ball and punch it into the back of the net to even the game at two.

UCLA fought back in the 64th minute as Adams netted her second goal of the evening on a left-footed shot to the right corner of the net to put the Bruins back on top, 3-2. As the game wore on, the Bruins began to take control, as Adams completed the hat-trick in the 84th minute to seal UCLA's 4-2 victory.

Overall, UCLA out-cornered the Illini 5-2, while also collecting nine offsides compared to Illinois' nil. The Bruins out-shot the Orange and Blue, 16-12.

The Illini will stay in Los Angeles for the remainder of the weekend, taking on Cal State Northridge on the final day of the UCLA Women's Cup. The Matadors take on San Francisco on Friday before facing Illinois on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT.